{ "id": 14754, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14754/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "NASA’s Pandora Mission Closer To Probing Alien Atmospheres", "description": "Basic overview of NASA's Pandora mission, which will revolutionize the study of exoplanet atmospheres.", "release_date": "2025-01-16T10:14:00-05:00", "update_date": "2025-05-19T08:34:47.791381-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 1140900, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/YTframe_ASD_Pandora.jpg", "filename": "YTframe_ASD_Pandora.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Watch to learn more about NASA's Pandora mission, which will revolutionize the study of exoplanet atmospheres.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: “Mesmeric Thoughts,” Andrew Michael Hewitt [PRS], Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 }, "main_video": null, "main_credits": {}, "progress": "Complete", "media_groups": [ { "id": 376928, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14754/#media_group_376928", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Watch to learn more about NASA's Pandora mission, which will revolutionize the study of exoplanet atmospheres.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Music: “Mesmeric Thoughts,” Andrew Michael Hewitt [PRS], Universal Production Music

Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.

Complete transcript available.

", "items": [ { "id": 446433, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1140900, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/YTframe_ASD_Pandora.jpg", "filename": "YTframe_ASD_Pandora.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Watch to learn more about NASA's Pandora mission, which will revolutionize the study of exoplanet atmospheres.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: “Mesmeric Thoughts,” Andrew Michael Hewitt [PRS], Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 461988, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1153226, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/YTframe_ASD_Pandora_searchweb.png", "filename": "YTframe_ASD_Pandora_searchweb.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Watch to learn more about NASA's Pandora mission, which will revolutionize the study of exoplanet atmospheres.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: “Mesmeric Thoughts,” Andrew Michael Hewitt [PRS], Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 446304, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1140790, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/Pandora_ToS_Good.mp4", "filename": "Pandora_ToS_Good.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Watch to learn more about NASA's Pandora mission, which will revolutionize the study of exoplanet atmospheres.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: “Mesmeric Thoughts,” Andrew Michael Hewitt [PRS], Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 446307, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1140793, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/Pandora_ToS_Best.mp4", "filename": "Pandora_ToS_Best.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Watch to learn more about NASA's Pandora mission, which will revolutionize the study of exoplanet atmospheres.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: “Mesmeric Thoughts,” Andrew Michael Hewitt [PRS], Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 446484, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1140946, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/14755PandoraToSCaptions.en_US.srt", "filename": "14755PandoraToSCaptions.en_US.srt", "media_type": "Captions", "alt_text": "Watch to learn more about NASA's Pandora mission, which will revolutionize the study of exoplanet atmospheres.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: “Mesmeric Thoughts,” Andrew Michael Hewitt [PRS], Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.", "label": "English", "language_code": "en-US" } }, { "id": 446485, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1140947, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/14755PandoraToSCaptions.en_US.vtt", "filename": "14755PandoraToSCaptions.en_US.vtt", "media_type": "Captions", "alt_text": "Watch to learn more about NASA's Pandora mission, which will revolutionize the study of exoplanet atmospheres.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: “Mesmeric Thoughts,” Andrew Michael Hewitt [PRS], Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.", "label": "English", "language_code": "en-US" } }, { "id": 461989, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1153227, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/YTframe_ASD_Pandora_thm.png", "filename": "YTframe_ASD_Pandora_thm.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Watch to learn more about NASA's Pandora mission, which will revolutionize the study of exoplanet atmospheres.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: “Mesmeric Thoughts,” Andrew Michael Hewitt [PRS], Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.", "width": 80, "height": 40, "pixels": 3200 } }, { "id": 446306, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1140792, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/Pandora_ToS_ProRes_1920x1080_24.mov", "filename": "Pandora_ToS_ProRes_1920x1080_24.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Watch to learn more about NASA's Pandora mission, which will revolutionize the study of exoplanet atmospheres.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: “Mesmeric Thoughts,” Andrew Michael Hewitt [PRS], Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376952, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14754/#media_group_376952", "widget": "Basic text with HTML", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Pandora, NASA’s newest exoplanet mission, is one step closer to launch with the completion of the spacecraft bus, which provides the structure, power, and other systems that will enable the mission to carry out its work.

Pandora is a small satellite that will provide in-depth study of at least 20 known planets orbiting distant stars in order to determine the composition of their atmospheres — especially the presence of hazes, clouds, and water. This data will establish a firm foundation for interpreting measurements by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and future missions that will search for habitable worlds.

Astronomers view the presence of water as a critical aspect of habitability because water is essential to life as we know it. But variations in light from a planet's host star can mask or mimic the signal of water. Separating these sources is where Pandora will shine.

Funded by NASA’s Astrophysics Pioneers program for small, ambitious missions, Pandora is a joint effort between Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California and NASA Goddard.

Astronomers can sample an exoplanet’s atmosphere when it passes in front of its star as seen from our perspective, an event called a transit. Part of the star’s light skims the atmosphere before making its way to us. This allows the light to interact with atmospheric substances, and their chemical fingerprints — dips in brightness at characteristic wavelengths — become imprinted in the light.

But our telescopes see light from the entire star as well, not just what’s grazing the planet. Stellar surfaces aren’t uniform. They sport hotter, unusually bright regions called faculae and cooler, darker regions similar to sunspots, both of which grow, shrink, and change position as the star rotates.

Using a novel all-aluminum, 45-centimeter-wide (17 inches) telescope, jointly developed by Livermore and Corning Specialty Materials in Keene, New Hampshire, Pandora’s detectors will capture each star’s visible brightness and near-infrared spectrum at the same time, while also obtaining the transiting planet’s near-infrared spectrum. This combined data will enable the science team to determine the properties of stellar surfaces and cleanly separate star and planetary signals.

Over the course of its year-long prime mission, Pandora will observe at least 20 exoplanets 10 times, with each stare lasting a total of 24 hours. Each observation will include a transit, which is when the mission will capture the planet’s spectrum.", "items": [], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376929, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14754/#media_group_376929", "widget": "Video player", "title": "Pandora Mission Overview Reel", "caption": "", "description": "Watch to learn more about NASA's Pandora mission, which will revolutionize the study of exoplanet atmospheres. Vertical version of the video.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Music: “Mesmeric Thoughts,” Andrew Michael Hewitt [PRS], Universal Production Music

Complete transcript available.

\r\n\r\nFind main content [here](https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14754/){target=_blank}.", "items": [ { "id": 446486, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1140948, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/Pandora_thumbnail_art_vert.jpg", "filename": "Pandora_thumbnail_art_vert.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Watch to learn more about NASA's Pandora mission, which will revolutionize the study of exoplanet atmospheres. Vertical version of the video.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: “Mesmeric Thoughts,” Andrew Michael Hewitt [PRS], Universal Production MusicComplete transcript available.", "width": 1080, "height": 1920, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 446406, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1140791, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/Pandora_ToS_Vert_Good.mp4", "filename": "Pandora_ToS_Vert_Good.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Watch to learn more about NASA's Pandora mission, which will revolutionize the study of exoplanet atmospheres. Vertical version of the video.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: “Mesmeric Thoughts,” Andrew Michael Hewitt [PRS], Universal Production MusicComplete transcript available.", "width": 1080, "height": 1920, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 446487, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1140794, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/Pandora_ToS_Vert_Best.mp4", "filename": "Pandora_ToS_Vert_Best.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Watch to learn more about NASA's Pandora mission, which will revolutionize the study of exoplanet atmospheres. Vertical version of the video.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: “Mesmeric Thoughts,” Andrew Michael Hewitt [PRS], Universal Production MusicComplete transcript available.", "width": 1080, "height": 1920, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 446397, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1140880, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/Pandora_ToS_Vert_ProRes_1080x1920_24.mov", "filename": "Pandora_ToS_Vert_ProRes_1080x1920_24.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Watch to learn more about NASA's Pandora mission, which will revolutionize the study of exoplanet atmospheres. Vertical version of the video.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: “Mesmeric Thoughts,” Andrew Michael Hewitt [PRS], Universal Production MusicComplete transcript available.", "width": 1080, "height": 1920, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 470580, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1155279, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/14755PandoraToSCaptionsREEL.en_US.srt", "filename": "14755PandoraToSCaptionsREEL.en_US.srt", "media_type": "Captions", "alt_text": "Watch to learn more about NASA's Pandora mission, which will revolutionize the study of exoplanet atmospheres. Vertical version of the video.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: “Mesmeric Thoughts,” Andrew Michael Hewitt [PRS], Universal Production MusicComplete transcript available.", "label": "English", "language_code": "en-US" } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376930, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14754/#media_group_376930", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Pandora’s spacecraft bus was photographed Jan. 10 within a thermal-vacuum testing chamber at Blue Canyon Technologies in Lafayette, Colorado. The bus provides the structure, power, and other systems that will enable the mission to help astronomers better separate stellar features from the spectra of transiting planets.

Credit: NASA/Weston Maughan, BCT

Image description: In this vertical photo, a metal box placed on a short stand with red supports rests within a large, dark cylindrical chamber. A bundle of blue wires extends from the upper left of the chamber into a coil at the bottom left of the stand. Blue, black, pink, and gold wires can be seen connecting to the front of the box. The background is an off-white wall, and a column is visible at right.", "items": [ { "id": 446399, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1140796, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/Pandora_bus_TVAC_print.jpg", "filename": "Pandora_bus_TVAC_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Pandora’s spacecraft bus was photographed Jan. 10 within a thermal-vacuum testing chamber at Blue Canyon Technologies in Lafayette, Colorado. The bus provides the structure, power, and other systems that will enable the mission to help astronomers better separate stellar features from the spectra of transiting planets.Credit: NASA/Weston Maughan, BCTImage description: In this vertical photo, a metal box placed on a short stand with red supports rests within a large, dark cylindrical chamber. A bundle of blue wires extends from the upper left of the chamber into a coil at the bottom left of the stand. Blue, black, pink, and gold wires can be seen connecting to the front of the box. The background is an off-white wall, and a column is visible at right.", "width": 1024, "height": 768, "pixels": 786432 } }, { "id": 446398, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1140795, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/Pandora_bus_TVAC.png", "filename": "Pandora_bus_TVAC.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Pandora’s spacecraft bus was photographed Jan. 10 within a thermal-vacuum testing chamber at Blue Canyon Technologies in Lafayette, Colorado. The bus provides the structure, power, and other systems that will enable the mission to help astronomers better separate stellar features from the spectra of transiting planets.Credit: NASA/Weston Maughan, BCTImage description: In this vertical photo, a metal box placed on a short stand with red supports rests within a large, dark cylindrical chamber. A bundle of blue wires extends from the upper left of the chamber into a coil at the bottom left of the stand. Blue, black, pink, and gold wires can be seen connecting to the front of the box. The background is an off-white wall, and a column is visible at right.", "width": 4032, "height": 3024, "pixels": 12192768 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376931, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14754/#media_group_376931", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Pandora's solar panel reaches its full extent during a deployment test at Blue Canyon Technologies in Lafayette, Colorado.

Credit: NASA/BCT Solar Array Team

Image description: On a shiny metal table, a gray panel stands on its edge, extending from left foreground to right. The panel rests on two triangular metal supports with circular blue feet. A thin wire snakes across the tabletop. The panel is divided into three sections joined by hinges, and each section contains a total of 90 blue squares — solar cells — in two rectangular groups. In the background are blue-legged tables, chairs, and other equipment.", "items": [ { "id": 446402, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1140799, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/Pandora_solar_panel_deployment_test.jpg", "filename": "Pandora_solar_panel_deployment_test.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Pandora's solar panel reaches its full extent during a deployment test at Blue Canyon Technologies in Lafayette, Colorado.Credit: NASA/BCT Solar Array TeamImage description: On a shiny metal table, a gray panel stands on its edge, extending from left foreground to right. The panel rests on two triangular metal supports with circular blue feet. A thin wire snakes across the tabletop. The panel is divided into three sections joined by hinges, and each section contains a total of 90 blue squares — solar cells — in two rectangular groups. In the background are blue-legged tables, chairs, and other equipment.", "width": 3264, "height": 2448, "pixels": 7990272 } }, { "id": 446403, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1140800, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/Pandora_solar_panel_deployment_test_print.jpg", "filename": "Pandora_solar_panel_deployment_test_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Pandora's solar panel reaches its full extent during a deployment test at Blue Canyon Technologies in Lafayette, Colorado.Credit: NASA/BCT Solar Array TeamImage description: On a shiny metal table, a gray panel stands on its edge, extending from left foreground to right. The panel rests on two triangular metal supports with circular blue feet. A thin wire snakes across the tabletop. The panel is divided into three sections joined by hinges, and each section contains a total of 90 blue squares — solar cells — in two rectangular groups. In the background are blue-legged tables, chairs, and other equipment.", "width": 1024, "height": 768, "pixels": 786432 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376950, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14754/#media_group_376950", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Pandora's spacecraft bus is seen during powered testing at Blue Canyon Technologies in Lafayette, Colorado.

Credit: NASA/Ward Handley, BCT

Image description: On top of a metal test stand with red supports rests a silvery box with several cutouts and two conical shapes oriented toward the camera. It has several cables attached. A rectangular element extends above the box with a thick, black cable draped over it. Other wires run along the top of the box and down along its right side. In the background, a table with blue legs holds two inactive flat panel displays, and a blue chair lies in front of them. On an off-white wall behind the table, a large American flag dominates the scene. ", "items": [ { "id": 446404, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1140801, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/Pandora_bus_power_test.jpg", "filename": "Pandora_bus_power_test.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Pandora's spacecraft bus is seen during powered testing at Blue Canyon Technologies in Lafayette, Colorado.Credit: NASA/Ward Handley, BCTImage description: On top of a metal test stand with red supports rests a silvery box with several cutouts and two conical shapes oriented toward the camera. It has several cables attached. A rectangular element extends above the box with a thick, black cable draped over it. Other wires run along the top of the box and down along its right side. In the background, a table with blue legs holds two inactive flat panel displays, and a blue chair lies in front of them. On an off-white wall behind the table, a large American flag dominates the scene. ", "width": 4032, "height": 3024, "pixels": 12192768 } }, { "id": 446405, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1140802, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/Pandora_bus_power_test_print.jpg", "filename": "Pandora_bus_power_test_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Pandora's spacecraft bus is seen during powered testing at Blue Canyon Technologies in Lafayette, Colorado.Credit: NASA/Ward Handley, BCTImage description: On top of a metal test stand with red supports rests a silvery box with several cutouts and two conical shapes oriented toward the camera. It has several cables attached. A rectangular element extends above the box with a thick, black cable draped over it. Other wires run along the top of the box and down along its right side. In the background, a table with blue legs holds two inactive flat panel displays, and a blue chair lies in front of them. On an off-white wall behind the table, a large American flag dominates the scene. ", "width": 1024, "height": 768, "pixels": 786432 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 376951, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14754/#media_group_376951", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "An artist's concept of the Pandora mission, seen here without the thermal blanketing that will protect the spacecraft, observing a star and its transiting exoplanet.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Conceptual Image Lab

Image description: Against a starry backdrop, a metallic spacecraft observes a mottled yellow and orange star with a planet silhouetted in front of it. The planet has a bluish rim, indicating an atmosphere. Extending from the spacecraft toward lower left is a rectangle containing panels of blue and purple that represents Pandora's solar array.", "items": [ { "id": 446395, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1140881, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/Pandora_peers_at_a_transit_1080.jpg", "filename": "Pandora_peers_at_a_transit_1080.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "An artist's concept of the Pandora mission, seen here without the thermal blanketing that will protect the spacecraft, observing a star and its transiting exoplanet.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Conceptual Image LabImage description: Against a starry backdrop, a metallic spacecraft observes a mottled yellow and orange star with a planet silhouetted in front of it. The planet has a bluish rim, indicating an atmosphere. Extending from the spacecraft toward lower left is a rectangle containing panels of blue and purple that represents Pandora's solar array.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 446396, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1140882, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/Pandora_peers_at_a_transit_2160.jpg", "filename": "Pandora_peers_at_a_transit_2160.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "An artist's concept of the Pandora mission, seen here without the thermal blanketing that will protect the spacecraft, observing a star and its transiting exoplanet.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Conceptual Image LabImage description: Against a starry backdrop, a metallic spacecraft observes a mottled yellow and orange star with a planet silhouetted in front of it. The planet has a bluish rim, indicating an atmosphere. Extending from the spacecraft toward lower left is a rectangle containing panels of blue and purple that represents Pandora's solar array.", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } } ], "extra_data": {} } ], "studio": "gms", "funding_sources": [ "PAO" ], "credits": [ { "role": "Producer", "people": [ { "name": "Scott Wiessinger", "employer": "eMITS" } ] }, { "role": "Science writer", "people": [ { "name": "Francis Reddy", "employer": "University of Maryland College Park" } ] }, { "role": "Scientist", "people": [ { "name": "Elisa Quintana", "employer": "NASA/GSFC" }, { "name": "Ben Hord", "employer": "NASA/GSFC" } ] }, { "role": "Animator", "people": [ { "name": "Jonathan North", "employer": "eMITS" }, { "name": "Chris Smith", "employer": "eMITS" } ] } ], "missions": [], "series": [ "Narrated Movies" ], "tapes": [], "papers": [], "datasets": [], "nasa_science_categories": [ "Universe" ], "keywords": [ "Ast", "Astrophysics", "Exoplanet", "Exoplanet Atmospheres", "Pandora", "Space", "Spectrum", "Star", "Transit" ], "recommended_pages": [], "related": [ { "id": 14974, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14974/", "page_type": "Infographic", "title": "Infographic: NASA’s Pandora Mission", "description": "Pandora is a NASA SmallSat mission designed to study exoplanet atmospheres and their host stars. In its first year, it will observe about 20 exoplanets using visible and near-infrared light, revisiting each planet ten times for 24-hour observations to separate the planet’s signal from its star and reveal the composition of the planet’s atmosphere. || ", "release_date": "2026-02-26T00:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2026-02-23T17:52:07-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1202113, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014974/NASA_Pandora_SmallSat_Infographic_print.jpg", "filename": "NASA_Pandora_SmallSat_Infographic_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This artist’s concept summarizes NASA’s Pandora mission and its science goals. Pandora will repeatedly observe multiple planets and their host stars in both visible and near-infrared light. These measurements will enable astronomers to separate chemical fingerprints detected in a planet’s atmosphere from potentially misleading signals originating from its host star.Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts", "width": 1024, "height": 1439, "pixels": 1473536 } }, { "id": 14945, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14945/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "NASA’s Pandora Satellite to Explore Exoplanets and Stars", "description": "Artist’s concept of NASA’s Pandora mission, which will help scientists untangle the signals from exoplanets’ atmospheres — worlds beyond our solar system — and their stars.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterAlt text: The Pandora spacecraft with an exoplanet and two stars in the backgroundImage description: A metallic spacecraft takes up most of this image. Its body is made of a cylindrical telescope attached to a square base. Inside the telescope is the reflection of an orange star. A line of three solar panels extends from the right side of the spacecraft at a 45-degree angle. On the right side of the background is a large planet streaked with purple, pink, and white. To the left of the planet are two stars. One is small, yellow, and very close to the planet. The other is white and is almost totally eclipsed by the spacecraft. || Pandora_Graphic_No_Text.jpg (6000x3000) [3.5 MB] || Pandora_Graphic_No_Text.png (6000x3000) [22.7 MB] || ", "release_date": "2026-01-09T09:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2026-01-14T09:49:40-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1195440, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014945/Pandora_Graphic_1_print.jpg", "filename": "Pandora_Graphic_1_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Labeled version of the artist’s concept of Pandora, alternative font.\rCredit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center\rAlt text: The Pandora spacecraft with an exoplanet and two stars in the background\rImage description: A metallic spacecraft takes up most of this image. Its body is made of a cylindrical telescope attached to a square base. Inside the telescope is the reflection of an orange star. A line of three solar panels extends from the right side of the spacecraft at a 45-degree angle. On the right side of the background is a large planet streaked with purple, pink, and white. To the left of the planet are two stars. One is small, yellow, and very close to the planet. The other is white and is almost totally eclipsed by the spacecraft. It is labeled “Pandora” in the upper left corner.", "width": 1024, "height": 512, "pixels": 524288 } }, { "id": 14941, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14941/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "NASA’s Pandora Satellite Set to Explore Exoplanets and Beyond", "description": "This view of the fully integrated Pandora spacecraft was taken May 19, 2025 , following the mission’s successful environmental test campaign at Blue Canyon Technologies in Lafayette, Colorado. The next step is to ready the vehicle for shipping to the launch site. Visible are star trackers (center), multilayer insulation blankets (white), the end of the telescope (top), and the solar panel (right) in its launch configuration. NASA/Brooks Freehill, BCTAlt text: Pandora, fully integrated, with blue-lit backgroundImage description: Against a background filled with blue light is a gray rectangular stand. Atop it is a structure with what appear to be short red feet at the corners of each of the visible corners of a bluish box. A white conical structure extends upward form the box, containing a bluish rectangular panel about midway up. At the top extends a short circular structure nearly as wide as the cone’s top surface; it is bluish and topped by a metallic red ring. On the right side is a large rectangle containing 92 dark blue rounded rectangles separated by brown; white cables run from the bottom into the spacecraft. At the base of the white area at left are two small, roughly pyramidal features; the one at far left is colored gold and seen from the side, while the one to the right of it, seen end on, appears as a red square. Numerous gold-wrapped cables extend down along the sides and continue to the right underneath the box. Along the cable path, at the bottom of the nearest corner of the box, is a small red rectangle with text reading “REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT.” || Pandora_integrated_blue_BCT.jpg (4366x4480) [12.0 MB] || ", "release_date": "2026-01-02T10:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2025-12-19T01:33:24.656039-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1195240, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014941/Pandora_integrated_BCT.jpg", "filename": "Pandora_integrated_BCT.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This view of the fully integrated Pandora spacecraft was taken May 19, 2025 , following the mission’s successful environmental test campaign at Blue Canyon Technologies in Lafayette, Colorado. The next step is to ready the vehicle for shipping to the launch site. Visible are star trackers (center), multilayer insulation blankets (white), the end of the telescope (top), and the solar panel (right) in its launch configuration. NASA/Brooks Freehill, BCTAlt text: Pandora, fully integrated, with U.S. flag in the backgroundImage description: Against a white background wall decorated with a large U.S. flag is a gray rectangular stand. Atop it is a structure with what appear to be short red feet at the corners of each of the visible corners of a shiny metallic box that reflects equipment not seen in the image. A white conical structure extends upward form the box, containing a bluish rectangular panel about midway up. At the top extends a short circular structure nearly as wide as the cone’s top surface; it is shiny, metallic, and topped by a metallic red ring. On the right side is a large rectangle containing 92 dark blue rounded rectangles separated by brown; white cables run from the bottom into the spacecraft. At the base of the white area at left are two small, roughly pyramidal features; the one at far left is colored gold and seen from the side, while the one to the right of it, seen end on, appears as a red square. Numerous gold-wrapped cables extend down along the sides and continue to the right underneath the box. Along the cable path, at the bottom of the nearest corner of the box, is a small red rectangle with text reading “REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT.”", "width": 5569, "height": 4249, "pixels": 23662681 } } ], "sources": [ { "id": 14747, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14747/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "Pandora Spacecraft Animations", "description": "Animated beauty pass of an artist's concept of the Pandora spacecraft, viewed without thermal blankets, set in a neutral gray volume. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Conceptual Image LabAlt text: Pandora spacecraft animation no. 1Image description: An artist’s concept of NASA’s exoplanet explorer, Pandora, floats in a light gray background. The body of the small satellite looks like a black box with metal hardware. A long metallic cylinder extends upward from the body with multiple thin rings that slightly protrude from the surface and a flat metal rectangle on one side. On the underside of the body is a shiny dark circle. Pandora’s three solar panels extend from one side of the spacecraft’s body. The visible side is gray and laced with white wires, and the panels are connected with small silver fasteners. || Pandora_Beauty_S1_Still.jpg (3840x2160) [1.0 MB] || Pandora_Beauty_S1_Still_searchweb.png (320x180) [37.2 KB] || Pandora_Beauty_S1_Still_thm.png [4.0 KB] || Pandora_Beauty_S1_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [14.7 MB] || Pandora_Beauty_S1_4k.mp4 (3840x2160) [36.6 MB] || Pandora_Beauty_S1_ProRes_3840x2160_30.mov (3840x2160) [1.1 GB] || ", "release_date": "2025-01-16T10:15:00-05:00", "update_date": "2026-02-25T13:55:54-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1140763, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014747/Pandora_Beauty_S1_Still_searchweb.png", "filename": "Pandora_Beauty_S1_Still_searchweb.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Animated beauty pass of an artist's concept of the Pandora spacecraft, viewed without thermal blankets, set in a neutral gray volume. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Conceptual Image LabAlt text: Pandora spacecraft animation no. 1Image description: An artist’s concept of NASA’s exoplanet explorer, Pandora, floats in a light gray background. The body of the small satellite looks like a black box with metal hardware. A long metallic cylinder extends upward from the body with multiple thin rings that slightly protrude from the surface and a flat metal rectangle on one side. On the underside of the body is a shiny dark circle. Pandora’s three solar panels extend from one side of the spacecraft’s body. The visible side is gray and laced with white wires, and the panels are connected with small silver fasteners.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } } ], "products": [ { "id": 14792, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14792/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "Astrophysics Missions Vertical Video", "description": "This page collects vertical videos related to specific Astrophysics missions and their hardware or capabilities.", "release_date": "2025-05-27T20:57:00-04:00", "update_date": "2025-05-27T20:57:22.513652-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 1140948, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014700/a014754/Pandora_thumbnail_art_vert.jpg", "filename": "Pandora_thumbnail_art_vert.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Watch to learn more about NASA's Pandora mission, which will revolutionize the study of exoplanet atmospheres. Vertical version of the video.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: “Mesmeric Thoughts,” Andrew Michael Hewitt [PRS], Universal Production MusicComplete transcript available.", "width": 1080, "height": 1920, "pixels": 2073600 } } ], "newer_versions": [], "older_versions": [], "alternate_versions": [] }